Up-Cycled Magic!
I restored this old cabinet, it was originally an ugly black and gray piece. I painted it with left over paints from Lowe's: coconut white and a light salmon pink. I choose to paint the inside the coconut white.

The top right corner was missing a ledge corner, the center was missing 2 medallions and had no knobs.

I molded the left corner edge of the piece, then poured with plaster, and attached to the right corner using wood putty and a few layers of spackle, once dried I sanded it!

Next I made another mold of the 2 medallions, poured it w/plaster and attached to the center doors with clear caulk, then I sanded some parts of the whole piece to show the original black paint that was underneath.

Finally I went to Lowe's and grabbed 2 crystal cabinet knobs, then attached them to the top drawer of the cabinet and to the center door. Now it plays host to my jewelry boxes and jeweled treasures.

This is actually a simple project you can finish in a weeked with in-expensive materials. I bought the cabinet for $5 because it was damaged. The paint was $3 a can since it was left over paint, the knobs were $2 each, the mold compound was $10 with a coupon, the plaster of paris was $3, Spackle, wood putty and clear caulk were left overs from another project, total for finished fabulous chic piece: $25 including the tax for everything!

This is a project you can do to old bathroom or kitchen cabinets, visit a dumpster, local junk/salvage yard, surplus store, thrift store, rummage/garage sale, etc. for furniture to re-do!

Happy Weekend!
XO
Lisa!

Curbside Find, Up-Cycled!
I live to recycle/upcycle items to use in my works, my displays and my decor, Something always has a purpose no matter what. Recently it was clean up week in my area, and to my delight I came across some amazing pieces to re-finish and up-cycle to a new use. Here is one of those finds, a hutch top, that really only needed some sanding and paint.After seeing this, I hauled it over to my store, carried it up the stairs and started sanding it. I then washed it off and began its first coat of paint in creamy dove followed by a sweet taffy blue color for the trim, here is the result!After the paint dried I placed it into my store in a new area designated for girly girl, pink, 50's kitch and pastel color items all vintage and new.Here are some close ups of the shelf vignettes!Hope you enjoyed my newest upcycled design! Have a magic filled day!

P.S. Come on over and visit us at Piddlestixs!

Up-Cycling Fabric Remnants, Pillows, Bar Cloth and Crochet Squares!

For the longest time I have been looking at my remnant and leftover fabrics grow from scraps, pillow casings, bar cloth wares, crochet and needle point squares, etc., I have huge containers filled since I started collecting when I was around a child, everyone gave me there fabric leftovers to sew doll clothes with and keep me busy. As an teen I started making aprons, skirts and purses, eventually pillows and curtains.

With the fabric department gone in Walmart, Rag Shop Closings, no fabrics in Michaels or ACMoore, limited Hobby Lobbies and Joannes's where does one get fabric anymore? Well of course online, but its not the same when you walk into a store a see it or get that insane sale or leftovers.

With the increase in recycling and hankering down to our homemade roots to find that re-invention in us their is a rise in flea market and rummage sale attendance, everyone looking for that bargain, that trash which will be their treasure, to turn into something else. In order to find these treasures you have to have an open mind and see things in a new way, a shirt is no longer a shirt but fabric for a purse, a doll, an apron, a stocking. A kitchen valance can become an instant apron, a child's puffy skirt or dress can be an apron, burlap can be a purse or sachet, the possibilities are endless when you have an open mind.

I try to hunt down thrift stores and rummage sales for bargains to craft with, keeping my budget at $10 and see how far it can go, you would be surprised at how far it can last at one of these places, its like treasure hunting meets bargain hunting for the creative soul.

Today I would like to share with you 3 up-cycled purse projects with items I had hanging around the studio and what I carry at the store. The project is; "Savannah's Garden Purse"
This purse was made using a crochet pillow casing, the pillow was in bad shape, so I ripped out the stuffing and turned into a purse. Its practically already sewn for you, just fold over the opening ends, add grommets, then insert with wire handles from a discarded knitting bag.
Next complete with vintage rhinestone trimming, rhinestone pins and pearls from a 1950's necklace!
This next purse is called:"Rhinestone Steampunk Purse" it is made from a Bar cloth material vintage shirt I found for 50 cents. I cut off the arms and buttons, folded in half twice, then stitched on the wooden handles and added on a collection of rhinestone pins and rhinestone necklace strip to the front. The pins don't match, yet they do for a more kitchy look!Notice the strip of pins, they are just pinned on, so you can change it up all the time!
Here is the 3rd purse I created called: Rhinestones and Flowers Purse, which is made from leftover French Tapestry fabric, Wooden Handles, vintage rhinestone trimming and more rhinestone pins/pendants!
This purse was made the same way as the bar cloth purse, the lining is the same as the outside design. You can add several pins to this, rows of rhinestones, red velvet flower pins, trimming to the bottom, the possibilities are endless!

Each of these purses can be made with or without rhinestones or add tons more, add rows of pearls, rhinestones in each corner, embroider onto them, add doll heads to them, use take smaller handles and turn into stocking purses for the holidays, so many things to do!

Hope you are inspired to keep recycling, remember to save those socks and mittens,like the post before, they can become a doll!

Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

Up-cycled Furniture!

A passion of mine is saving old discarded furniture and giving it an up-do or what is now labeled: Up-cycle. Before I opened Piddlestixs my task was trying to find in-expensive furniture to fill the store with, but now a days even thrift stores and Good Will Stores are raising their prices on items due to dealers, which hurts those of us who really could use a good bargain. However with some extreme treasure hunting you can find some good deals for instance this 1970's style china cabinet I purchased for $10. Loved the frame but hated the wood color, so I picked up discount paint for $5 a gallon, a primer and paint in one, the color, Shabby Bubblegum. Then I bought a creamy white enamel paint on sale for $1.25 to fill in the hard ware and accents.

Here is the piece in its original state:

Here is the piece sanded and getting painted:

Here it is painted:

Now with the accents painted:

This next piece was a child's bed headboard/hutch which was an ugly 60s'/70s' brown, which I painted with more of the bargain paints:


The following piece was again an ugly cheap wood color, which I sanded and painted w/more bargain paint in a pastel Robin's egg blue color:



Stay tuned for more painted pieces!
xoxo
Lisa!

Le Petit Corsaire Danseurs, Art-Upcycled!


Meet the: Le Petit Corsaire Danseurs!

These are small ballet dancers that are made from cat toys, which I up-cycled from my cat's toy collection, and have given them a new look!

The inspiration for this project actually came from a project I made for my art book:
Altered Art Circus, Quarry Books, Feb. 2009. The original project was made from recycled rubber toy animals, which were similar to circus/carnival toys that you might have won at the circus or amusement park, using your tokens or tickets to redeem them.

Circus Toy Animals are getting harder to find, so I used rubber and plastic animals I purchased from a Dollar Store and Michaels Craft Store, which I further painted and embellished with crepe paper, trims and jewels, as a result Jeannie The Giraffe and Alaister the Lion were born.
To update this project, show variation and recycle at the same time I tried the cat toys I had from my cats toy box, these were less played with and in great condition, so I decided to transform them as I had done with the carnival toys in my book.
For the "Le Petit Corsaire Danseurs" I used a stuffed mouse toy as the base, then embellished them with layers of crepe paper, sequins, trims, mini tree ornaments, tiny pearl strands, white floral wire, recycled Christmas tree light bulbs for the crowns, and either my home made mica flakes or a variety of glitters.

Then I had to name them, their names are: Muffy, Matilda, Miranda and Millie!

This project could be done using tiny stuffed bears or animals, plastic animals, felt animals, clay animals, wood animals, pet toys or what ever you have calling for a tutu or crown.

For complete instructions on this project look for Chapter 5, Carnival Toys,
Pages 92-95 of Altered Art Circus!

Hope this project has inspired you to make your own ballerina's and artful toys!
Magic and Joy!
Lisa!

The Jeweled Dress Form and Art Upcycled Treasures!
I've been making alot of jewelry lately, I had a recent trunk show of my jewelry and handmade dress forms, it was so much fun, to get my mind channeling into another direction, back to my jewelry roots, all while recycling what I had and using up vintage and new pieces.I love dress forms, they are the perfect accompaniment to any artist studio for showcasing your fave treasures on or to display them at an event or art show. I have always wanted to pick up a dress form, but never got around to it, the old ones are expensive and harder to find, the new ones, well they aren't timeless, but with a bit of distressing they can achieve that worn look

Display IDEAS:

-But what about making your own? All you need is a thick wooden dowel or porch post, some scrap wood, batting and fabric. For smaller ones, a wire base with legs or a bird cage or standing plant stand will work, and again, batting and fabric.

-You don't need a dress form to display your treasures, what about covering a corkboard w/fabric and painting the wood frame antique gold or a fun pink, robin's egg blue or chalky white.

-A Garden Wire Rack or floral ornament will work as great displays, closet shutter doors, wooden window shutters, or 3 door screens are all great displays.

Try buying 3 door sized pieces of wood, cover both sides with upholstery batting, staple gunning to wood. Cover with fabric of choice, trim sides with molding, trim or upholstery tacks, hinged together, voila instant 3 door screen w/displaying capability.

Some art-upcycled pieces I made:
1. The Gothic Victorian Bracelet:A hand beaded and sequin fabric cuff bracelet I made and extra embellished with a vintage pin.
2. Priscilla's Garden Bracelet:A bracelet with vintage and modern pieces.
3. The Money Talismen Bracelet:A bracelet to bring the wearer good fortune and luck. I love this one, we could use fortune and luck in our lives don't you agree?

For more of my jewelry and inspiration visit my flickr set called: Handmade Jewelry and Tiara Set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonfaires16/sets/72157604136359174/

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My Mom Joan aka Aurora-tique is a wonderful designer, here are some of her new art up-cycled pieces using vintage jewelry, mixed with various old and new elements:

1. The Secret Garden Locket: Escape to a secret garden of your own, just open the locket and be transported to your favorite secret place! The main pendant is a vintage jewelry locket, a vintage chain, crystals, beads, along with other dazzling componants and findings.
2. A Charming Life Bracelet:
3. Underwater Garden Party Bracelet:
4. Le Papillon Necklace:
To see more of my mom's works visit her Flickr site at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31727305@N04/

To purchase her works or for requests/orders visit her new Etsy Store at:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6390013

To see her blog visit:
http://auroratique.blogspot.com/